Manifolding apparatus



Jan. 9, 1934.

H. T. MOSFELT El' AL MANIFOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 1 IHM w Jan. 9, 1934.

Y H.T. MOSFELT ET AL MANIFOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 20, 1933 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 9, 1934.`

H.T. MosFEL-r' Er AL MANIFOLDING APPARATUS Filed Feb` 20, 1935 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan. 9, 1934 MANIFOLDING APPARATUS Harold ThomasMosfelt and Harold Schagerhohn', Chicago, Ill., assignors to Ross J.Beatty, Chicago, Ill.

.Application February 20,1933. seria1N0.657,534 v 9 claims. (ci.1197-153) Our present invention has relation to manifolding apparatusfor associattion with type writers and has for its main objects thesimplication and perfection of the constructionand operation of suchapparatus. As will hereafter be seen, we employ, with an endless inkedribbon, an apparatus for supplying the ribbon with ink. Thisarrangement, broadlyis not new with us, but we have greatly simplifiedthe mechanism for securing the desired results, and we have mproved andmade much more dependable both the inking and feeding of the ribbon.

We have also developed extremely simple and much more ecient ribbontensioning means, and we have rendered the entire organization moresturdy in character, simple and eiective inoperation and of a designwhich will permit of material economies in its manufacture. d

We have attained the foregoing objects by 20 means of the structureillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a plan ofour improved manifolding attachment,

Fig. 2 is an elevation looking at the end of the apparatus carrying theribbon inking and feeding mechanism,

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the end opposite to that shown in Fig. 2,looking, however, in the same direction, 3,9.'- Fig. l is a frontelevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a vertical, longitudinal section, to

an enlarged scale, through the casing containing the ribbon feeding andinking mechanism, particularly illustrating the organization of theribbon feed,

Fig 6 is a perspective view, to an enlarged scale, of the ribbontensioning bracket detache from the frame,

Fig. 7 is a fragmental detail of the ratchet employed in the ribbonfeed, Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 5 except that the inkingand drive roller is in place and the spring cover or closure of theribbon feeding and inking mechanism is shown in open position in dottedlines, V

Fig. 9 is a horizontal, longitudinal section through the structure shownin Figs. 5 and 8,

Fig. 10 is a perspective. detail of the movable ribbon guide armdetached from the frame; and

Fig. 11 is a transverse, vertical section through the inking reservoirshowing the means for adjusting the supply of ink.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout therespective views.

We have provided'a simple rectangular frame which seats upon `and hasmeans for assembly with a cross rod now generally provided in the platencarriages of standard designs of typewriting machines. This rectangularframe of our manifoldingattachment consists of a longitudinal rear rod15 and a longitudinal front strap 16. The opposite ends of this rod and.strap are secured together at one end by an end rail made of two pieces17 and 18, which pieces are secured together bymeans of slots 19 andscrews 20 so as to permit of an adjustment of the width of the frame.The end of the rod 15 is assembled with the piece 17 bythreading the endof the rod and employing nuts 15a, as most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and4, so as to permit of Ilongitudinal acljustment of the end rail withrespect to the rod. Strap 16 serves also as a paper bail for theinanifolded sheets.

The opposite ends of the longitudinal members of the frame are securedtogether vby an end piece 21 substantially similar to the end piece 17and the side wall 22 ofthe casing for the ribbon feeding and inkingmechanism. The end piece 21 and side wall 22 are secured togetherthrough the instrumentality of slots 23 and screws 24 similar in allrespects to slots 19 and screws 20. The end pieces 17 Aand -21 areprovided with vertical downwardly opening slots 25, as most clearlyshown in Figs. 3, 5 and 8, to receive either the cross rail 26 of theplaten carriage of a typewriter or the cross rail of an adaptor, whichadaptor cross rail has end brackets 27 secured to the platen carriage ofthe typewriter. Such adaptor is indicated in Figs. 2, Sand 8. The sidewall 22 of the casing for the ribbon inking and feeding mechanism isbent inwardly upon its lower edge, as at 28 in Figs. 5 and 8, to providea bottom for the casing, and the front edge of the side wall 22 is alsobent inwardly at right angles, as is most clearly shown in Fig. 5 at 29,to form a front Wall for the casing.

To one end of the longitudinal front strap 16 of the frame is fixed adepending arm 30 which extends down opposite the printing` line on theplaten and serves for supporting one end of a guard ribbon (not shown).To the opposite end of the strap 16 is secured a depending ribbon finger31, as shown most clearly in Figs. 2, 5 and 8. The shape, as shown byfront elevation, of the ribbon finger 31 is similar to that of themovable ribbon inger shown in Fig. 10, hereafter to be described.

Secured to the front strap 16 by headed screws 32 passing through theslots thereof, is the ribbon tensioning bracket 33, shown most clearlyin Fig. 6, This tensioning bracket has a depending ribbon arm 34 and isheld yieldingly toward the end of the carriage by means of a coil spring35, one end of which is secured to one of the screws 32 and the otherend of which spring is secured to a finger piece 36 provided upon thebracket 33.

Secured to the side plate 22 of the ribbon feed and inking casing, bymeans of a headed screw 37, passing through a slot 38 therein, is aslide bar 39, the upper rear edge whereof is provided with a rack 40,and the front end whereof extends through a slot provided in the frontwall 29.

of the casing, and upon the extended front end of the slide bar 39 issecured a bracket 40 which is engaged by the line spacer lever of thetypewriter for the purpose of forcing the slide rod 39 into the casing.

Secured to the wall 22 by the pivot 41 is a gear 43. Journaled upon astud or arbor 44, fixed to and extending from the Wall 22, is a gear 43.The gear 43 is provided integral therewith and parallel thereto theratchet 45. Also journaledupon the stud or arbor 44 is the hub 46carrying the disc 47 adjacent to and parallel with the ratchet 45. Hub46 is held on arbor 44 by nut 46a. Pivoted to the face of the disc 47,as most clearly shown in Fig. 7, is a dog or detent 48 held in yieldingco-operation with the'ratchet 45 by the coil spring 49. The edge of thedisc 47 is pro vided with gear teeth 50 and from the face of the disc47, opposite to that adjacent the ratchet 45, extends, a stud or pin 51.

An inking and ribbon drive roller 52, having a recess therein forreceiving the pin or stud 51, slips over the hub46 and is held inposition by a cap nut 53 which screws on to the threaded outer end ofthe stud or arbor 44. Pivoted upon a stud 54 extending inwardly from thelower inner ex-v tremity of the casing wall 22 is a curved spring coverplate 55 which extends around the portion of the ribbon drive mechanismjust described, and forwardly to the front end of the casing, whereitengages the front wall 29 of the casing by means of a perforation 56provided in the front casing wall 29 and a button 57 carried by thecover plate 55. Secured to the inner face of the spring cover plate l55isv an additional curved spring strap 58, the free end whereof isbifurcated, andy between the bifurcations of which is rotatably carrieda shaft 59. The shaft 59 has fixed to it a gear wheel 60 co-operatingwith the gear teeth 50 upon the disc 47, and also fixed to the shaft 59is a presser roller 61.

It will now be seen that a ribbon carried around the inking and ribbonfeed roller 52 and between the roller 52 and the presser roller 61 willbe positively driven by both the feed and the presser roller as both ofthese rollers are mechanically rotated, otherwise than by the passage ofthe ribbon, which arrangement secures a ribbon feed of increasedefficiency and dependability.

In front of the location of the ribbon feed mechanism and in the upperforward corner of the wall 22 is provided an aperture in which ispressed the neck 62 of an ink reservoir 63. The neck 62 is used, inaddition to securing the reservoir in place, for the purpose ofsupplying the reservoir with ink and is interiorly threaded and closedby a screw plug 64. Passing longitudinally through the reservoir 63 is awick chamber 65 which is open at both ends and. which has communicationwith the interior of the ink reservoir only through a .port 66 in onewall of said wick chamber, which port 66 is controlled by a needle valve67 threaded through the opposite wall of the ink reservoir 63. Thisconstruction is most clearly seen in Figs. 5 and 11. The wall of theink" reservoir around the needle valve 67 is reinforced by an escutcheonplate 68 which may be marked as by lines 69 which, in connection with amark 70 on the outer end of the needle valve 67, will indicate theadjustment of the valve. A wick 71 of suitable size and shape tofrictionally remain in adjusted position in the wick chamber 65 ismounted in said chamber and adjusted so that the end thereof whichextends from the Wick chamber contacts with the ribbon driving andinking roller 52. A suitable adjustment of the wick 71 may be easilysecured as both ends of the wick chamber are open to access, as shown inFig. 5.

Aflixed to the casing wall 22 immediately behind the front casing wall29 is a stub shaft 72, the outer end whereof is reduced in diameter, andpivoted upon this outer reduced end of the shaft 72 is the movableribbon finger and mounting therefor, shown in perspective detail in Fig.10. The movable ribbon finger mounting 73 consists of a U-shapedstamping, the arms whereof are perforated at 74 for the passage of thereduced end of the shaft 72. One of the arms is extended and turned overat the end to form a handle 75 for swinging the ribbon finger forwardout of its normal position. An inner arm of ,the mounting is formed toproduce a stud or tang 76k which is perforated for the purpose ofsecuring thereto a spring 77, the other end whereof is secured totheslide bar 39 so that the spring 77 functions to hold the .movable ribbonfinger in normal position and also functions to hold the slide bar 39 inits forward position and to return it to that position when the linespacing lever is released after the slide has been pressed into thecasing. To the lower portion of the movable finger mounting 73 isriveted, or otherwise secured, the ribbon finger 78 which has an angularrecess 79 in its lower end, in which respect it is similar to thestationary ribbon finger 3l heretofore described. The outerarm formingone side of the angular recess 79 is slightly enlarged at its end and isdesigned to co-operate with the fixed depending arm 30 at the oppositeend of the strap 16 in holding a guard ribbon when it is desired to usea guard ribbon in connection with the apparatus. The ribbon path isindicated in Figs. 4 and 5. Starting at the point where the ribboncornes from between the feed roller 52 and the presser roller 61 itpasses forwardly and downwardly in front of the fixed ribbon finger 3l.at the bottom thereof. The ribbon then passes through the angular recessin the end of the ribbon finger 31 and proceeds at right angles to itsformer direction to the depending arm 34 of the tension bracket 33.. Theribbon comes from behind the arm 34 and retraces its path to a point infront of the movable ribbon finger 78. 'I'he ribbon then passesrearwardly through the angular recess 79 in-the movable rib- L bonfinger and upwardly through the casing and over the ink reservoir 65 andfrom thence to the top of and around the roller 52 to the point of .lil

strands of ribbon passing in front of the writing line of the platen sothat the sheets of paper uponA which the manifolds are to be made may bemore easily inserted between the strands. 'Ihe spring ribbon iinger, 34permits the manual tightening ofthe ribbon when it isdesired to turn thepaper backward in the typewriter.

The tensioning bracket 33 is not only simple to make and not liable toget out of order, but itv also :exerts its effort directly upon thestrands of the ribbon in front of the writing line upon the platen so asto keep these strands directly in proper position and under suitabletension.

The inking or re-inking of a ribbon also involves problems anddiiiiculties peculiarly inherent. It is extremely easy to supply toomuch ink to a ribbon and it is dimcult to secure a desired equaldistribution of the ink which is supplied. By providing means forgraduating the supply as the service requires, we make it possible tofeed ink to the ribbon in accordance with the wishes of the operator,and by bringing the ribbon between and subject to the action of themechanically driven roller 52 and presser roller 6l, the distribution ofink supplied to the roller 52 is more uniform and thorough. Therelatively large size of the inking and drive roller 52 permits of somegravitational distribution of the ink thereon and the direction in whichthe ribbon is fed secures a re-inking after a double use of the inkedsurface and presents a freshly inked ribbon to the rear manifolded copywhich receives the lightest type stroke.

We have set into the side of the roller 52 a stud or arm 52a by means ofwhich the roller may,

for billing and for making manifolded copies when the writing machine isbeing mechanically driven so that it is capable of constant and severeservice which would quickly exhaust the ordinary spool ribbons.

Having described our invention what we claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent is:

l. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a rectangularframe, means for assembling said frame with the platen carriage oi atypewriter, means for adjusting the width of said frame, a plurality ofribbon fingers depending from one side of said frame and mechanismcarried by said frame comprising a pair of mechanically rotated rollersfor feeding a ribbon by the rotation of said rollers longitudinallybetween said ribbon ngers.

2. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a rectangularframe, means carried by said frame for assembling the same with theplaten carriage of a typewriter, a pair of ribbon ngers depending fromone corner of said frame, a single spring pressed ribbon fingerdepending from the opposite corner upon the same side of said frame andmeans for feeding a ribbon from one of said pair of ribbon fingers tosaid spring pressed ribbon nger and back to the other of said pair ofribbon fingers.

3. A manifolding attachment for typewriters platen carriage of atypewriter, a pair of ribbon ngers depending from one corner of saidframe, one whereof is yieldingly maintairfed in parallelism with theother, a single spring pressed ribbon finger depending from the oppositecorner upon the same side of said frame and means for feeding a ribbonfrom one of said pair of ribbon fingers to said spring pressedribbonnger and back to the lother of said pair of ribbon fingers; I 4. Amanifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a rectangular frame,means carried by said frame for assembling thesame with the platencarriage of 'a typewriter, spaced ribbon fingers depending from one edgeoi said frame and means for feeding a ribbon between said spaced iingerscomprising a longitudinally movable rack, an idler gear co-acting withsaid rack, a gear co-acting with said idler gear, a ratchet xed to saidlast mentioned gear, a gear carrying aspring pressed detent co-operable.with said ratchet, a spring pressed gear co-operating with the gearcarrying said detent and ribbon drive rollers associated with and drivenrespectively by said detent carrying gear and the' gear cca-operativelyiherewith.

5. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a rectangularframe, means carried by said frame for assembling the same with theplaten carriage of a typewriter, spaced ribbon nngers depending from oneedge of said frame and means for feeding a ribbon between said spacedfingers comprising a longitudinally movable rack, an idler gearco-acting with said rack, a gear co-acing with said .idler gear, aratchet vliixed to said last mentioned gear, a gear carrying a springpressed detent co-operable with said ratchet, a spring pressed gearco-operating with the gear carrying said detent, ribbon drive rollersassociated with and driven respectively by said detent carrying gear andthe gear co-operating said ribbon drive rollers.

6. A manifolding attachment fortypewriters comprising a rectangularframe, means carried by said frame for assembling the same with theplaten carriage of a typewriter, spaced ribbon ngers depending from oneedge of said frame and means `for feeding a ribbon between said spacedngers comprising a longitudinally movable rack, an idler vgearizo-acting` with said rack, a gear co-acting with said idler gear, aratchet xed to said last mentioned gear, a gear carrying a springpressed detent co-operable with said ratchet, a

spring pressed" gear co-operating with the gear carrying said delent,ribbon drive rollers associated with and driven respectively by saiddetent carrying gear and the gear tao-operating therewith, means forsupplying ink to one of said ribbon drive rollers, and means forcontrolling said ink supply.

7. A manifolding attachment for typewriters comprising a frame, meansfor assembling said ist frame with the platen carriage of a typewriter,4

spaced ribbon fingers depending from said frame, means for :feeding aribbon between said spacedngers including oppositely driven ribbon driverollers and means for supplying ink to one of saiddrive rollerscomprising an ink reservoir,

a wick channel extending transversely throughsaid reservoir, a needlevalve controlling communication between said ink reservoir and said wickchannel anda wick disposed in said channel and extending intoco-operation with one of said ribbon drive rollers. 1

8. A manifolding attachment for typewriters IAC vISIS comprising aframe, means for assembling said frame with the platen carriage of atypewriter, a pair of ribbon fingers mounted upon said frame adjacentwith and parallel to each other, one whereof is yieldingly mounted, aspring pressed ribbon nger mounted upon said frame in spaced relationwith said first mentioned pair of ribbon fingers, means for feeding aribbon between the aforementioned ribbon fingers comprising oppositelydriven ribbon drive rollers, means for rotating said rollers including alongitudinally reciprocable rack and a single spring extending betweensaid rackmember and the above mentioned yielding ribbon nger.

9. A manifolding attachment for typewrilers comprising a frame, meansfor assembling said frame with the platen carriage of a typewriter,spaced ribbon fingers depending from said frame, means for feeding aribbon between said spaced ngers including oppositely driven ribbondrive rollers and means for supplying ink to one of said drive rollerscomprising an ink reservoir, a wick channel extending transverselythrough said reservoir, said reservoir having a port establishingcommunication between said ink reservoir and said wick channel, meanscontrolling the passage of ink through said port and a wick disposed insaid channel and extending into co-operation with one of said ribbondrive rollers.

HAROLD THOMAS MOSFELT. HAROLD .SCHAGERHOLB/.

